Form of Government - Governor and independent cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture. (Click Here) for additional information on Florida's cabinet process.
Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida in 1513 when he lands in NE Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine, to claim Florida for Spain. This is when written records about life in Florida began.
First permanent European settlement is established in 1565 in St. Augustine by Spain.
Florida becomes a U.S. Territory in 1821. General Andrew Jackson serves as military governor until Congress ratifies a territorial constitution.
William P. Duval, Florida's first civil governor, calls the first Legislative Council into session in Pensacola on June 19, 1823.
Admitted to U.S. as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)
See our front page for more "Historic" information links: (Click Here)
Florida Population
Population Rank - 4th in U.S. behind California, Texas & New York
Florida population estimates:
Florida’s Population (2011) - 19,057,542
Florida's Population (2003) - 17,019,068 Florida's Population (2002) - 16,713,149Florida's Population (2001) - 16,396,515Florida's Population (2000) - 15,982,378Population (1990) - 12,937,926Population (1980) - 9,746,961Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) - 23.5%City Population Rank (2010):
1.
Jacksonville
821,784
2.
Miami
399,457
3.
Tampa
335,709
4.
St. Petersburg
244,769
5.
Orlando
238,300
6.
Hialeah
224,669
7.
Tallahassee
181,376
8.
Fort Lauderdale
165,521
9.
Port St. Lucie
164,603
10.
Pembroke Pines
154,750
11.
Cape Coral
154,305
12.
Hollywood
140,768
13.
Gainesville
124,354
14.
Miramar
122,041
15.
Coral Springs
121,096
16.
Clearwater
107,685
17.
Miami Gardens (Carol City-Norland)
107,167
18.
Brandon
103,483
19.
Palm Bay
103,190
20.
West Palm Beach
99,919
21.
Pompano Beach
99,845
22.
Spring Hill
98,621
23.
Lakeland
97,422
24.
Davie
91,992
25.
Miami Beach
87,779
State Nickname - The Sunshine State State Motto - "In God we trust." State Mammal Florida Panther
Governor - Rick Scott
Capital - Tallahassee
Nickname - Sunshine State
State Flower - Orange Blossom
(Click Here) for Florida symbols
Number of Counties in Florida - 67
Form of Government - Governor and independent cabinet consisting of Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture. (Click Here) for additional information on Florida's cabinet process.
Legislature - 120 House Districts, 40 Senate Districts, 23 Congressional Districts
Total Area - 58,560 Square Miles
Land Area - 54,252 Square Miles
Total Water Area - 4,308 Square Miles
Rank Among States in Total Area - 22nd
Length North to South - 447 Miles
Width East to West - 361 Miles
Distance from Pensacola to Key West - 792 Miles by Road
Highest Natural Point - 345 Feet near Lakewood in Walton County
Geographic Center - 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County
Coastline - 1,197 Statute Miles
Tidal Shoreline - 2,276 Statute Miles
Beaches - 663 Miles
Florida has more than 11,000 miles of rivers, streams & waterways
Longest River - St. Johns at 273 miles
Largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee at 700 square miles
(the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the United States)
Largest County - Palm Beach at 2,578 square miles
Smallest County - Union at 245 square miles
Number of Lakes greater than 10 acres - Aprox. 7,700
Number of First Magnitude Springs - 27
(Florida has more first magnitude springs than any other state.)
Number of Islands Greater than 10 Acres - Aprox. 4,500
(Florida ranks 2nd in the nation by this measure and only Alaska ranks higher.)
More Florida water information: (Click Here)
Florida History
Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida in 1513 when he lands in NE Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine, to claim Florida for Spain. This is when written records about life in Florida began.
First permanent European settlement is established in 1565 in St. Augustine by Spain.
Florida becomes a U.S. Territory in 1821. General Andrew Jackson serves as military governor until Congress ratifies a territorial constitution.
William P. Duval, Florida's first civil governor, calls the first Legislative Council into session in Pensacola on June 19, 1823.
Admitted to U.S. as a State on March 3, 1845 (27th State)
See our front page for more "Historic" information links: (Click Here)
Florida Population
Population Rank - 4th in U.S. behind California, Texas & New York
Florida population estimates:
Florida’s Population (2011) - 19,057,542
Florida's Population (2003) - 17,019,068 Florida's Population (2002) - 16,713,149Florida's Population (2001) - 16,396,515Florida's Population (2000) - 15,982,378Population (1990) - 12,937,926Population (1980) - 9,746,961Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) - 23.5%City Population Rank (2010):
State Motto - "In God we trust."
State Mammal
State Marine Mammal